Combined cigarette package holder and match receptacle



April 8, 1947- J. B. NETHERCUTT ,658

COMBINED QIGARETTE PACKAGE HOLDER AND MATCH RECEPTACLE Filed Aug. 5, 1944 ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 8, 1947 COMBINED CIGARETTE PACKAGE HOLDER AND MATCH RECEPTACLE Jack B. Nethercutt, Santa Monica, Calif. Application August 5, 1944, Serial No. 548,283

4 Claims.

This invention has to do with a case and has particular reference to a case for carrying cigarettes and also matches, it being a general object of the invention to provide a simple, compact, inexpensive case for carrying, as a unit, a package of cigarettes and a supply of matches.

It is, of course, well known that cigarette users commonly employ matches for lighting the cigarettes, and it is customary to market cigarettes in packages and to dispense matches either individually or in units involving a few matches. Cigarettes and matches being separate articles are frequently separated so that they are not at hand or conveniently available for use, it being very common for matches to be lost or misplaced so that they are not available when the user de sires to light a cigarette. are commonly packaged in soft paper and are often crushed in the users pocket or in the course of being handled as the usual package does not afford ample protection.

It is a general object of the present invention to provide a case for carrying both cigarettes and matches so that both are protected and readily available for use.

It is another general object of the present invention to provide a case open at the top to receive and hold a package of cigarettes and having a side compartment for handling matches. .The case of the present invention handles a package of cigarettes so that it can be opened in the usual manner, that is, from one end, and the cigarettes removed from the package one at a time from the end thereof, while the matches are carried so that they are protected and are safe to carry, and at the same time are readily available when desired for use.

It is another object of the invention to provide a case of the general character referred to which is neat and compact, making it convenient and practical to carry and desirable for general use. The case provided by the invention is little larger than an ordinary package of cigarettes and can be carried in a userspurse or pocket much the same as an ordinary package of cigarettes.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a case of the general character above referred to which is so simple and inexpensive that it can be used to handle but a few packages of cigarettes and thereafter be discarded. The device of the present invention may be made of inexpensive material and is so simple of construction and involves so little material that it can be discarded as soon as it becomes soiled Further, cigarettes or worn by wear or as soon as the supply of matches carried thereby is exhausted. In practice the case is manufactured with a supply of matches suitable for lighting a few packages of cigarettes, in which case the case will be soiled and worn and ready for discard at about the time that the supply of matches is exhausted.

Another object of the invention is to provide a case of the general character referred to which is formed complete from a single simple sheet or blank of material.

Another object of the invention is to provide a case of the general character hereinabove referred to having incorporated therewith, as a unit, a supply of matches which can be used as successive packages of cigarettes are applied to and removed from the case. By my present invention I provide a case which includes a supply of matches and also a container for carrying a package of cigarettes at little, if any, more expense than is now involved in supplyinga package of matches.

The various objects and features of my invention will be fully understood from the following detailed description of a typical preferred form and application of my invention, throughout which description reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a case embodying the present invention showing a package of cigarettes in place therein and showing parts of the case broken away to illustrate the construction. Fig. 2 is a detailed sectional view of the case alone, being a view taken substantially as indicated by line 2-2 on Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a plan section of the case, being a view taken substantially asindicated by line 33 on Fig. 1. Fig. 4

is a reduced view showing the blank of material from which the case is formed. Fig. 5 is an enlarged detailed sectional view of a lower corner of the case, being an enlargement of a part of Fig. 2, and Fig. 6 is an enlarged, detailed sectional view of the top of the case being an enlargement of the top of Fig. 2.

The case provided by my invention forms or provides an open topped container for package of cigarettes and a side compartment for matches. The case is primarily a box-like structure and is preferably formed complete from a single sheet or blank of material, it being a feature of the invention that the blank is simple and. inexpensive of form and that the case is made from the blank by few simple folding operations.

The structure in its preferred form involves,

- periria-hehtl'y assembled structure;

3 generally, a main body having a front side lo, a rear side ll, ends l2, a bottom l3 and a partition [4. The several parts just mentioned are integrally joined as a continuous sheet as shown in Fig. 4, and the structure involves in addition to the parts above mentioned certain structural elements which facilitate retention of the parts in the finished form shown in Fig. 1. In the preferred form'of the invention the partition [4 is joined to the other parts of the blank by a narrow top wall I5 and the bottom I3 has a tongue [6 which folds into the structure while the ends 12 have tabs H which fold in and over the bottom l3 lending strength and rigidity to the case.

The front and rear sides It] and II are rectangular elements corresponding, generally, in size and shape to the sides of a package P of cigarettes, the parts of the case being made just enough larger than a package of cigarettes so that the container formed by the case will accommodate the package of cigarettes. The ends 12 of the case are substantially the same length as a package of cigarettes but are wider than the ends of a cigarette package by the thickness of the body of matches included in the structure.

The front and rear sides and the ends l2 are adapted to be assembled or folded together to form a structure rectangular in. cross sectional configuration. In the preferred construction illustrated the ends l2 adjoin and project from opposite longitudinal edges of the front side ID, that is, each side i2 has one longitudinal edge joined to a longitudinal edge of the front side Ill. The rear side H is joined to and projects from the other longitud nal edge of one of the ends l2 while a flap 20 is joined to and projects from the other side of the other end l2. The

several parts above described are bent or folded inward along the lines of joinder so that adjoining'parts are at right angles to each other and with the result that the several parts form a structure rectangular in cross section with the flap 2B overlapping or overlying the outer longitudinal edge 21 of the rear side II. It is preferred, in practice, that the flap be arranged at the inner surface of the rear side [2 so that itdoes not appear to the user of the case, The flap 20 is secured to the rear side H of the case by a suitable adhesive.

The bottom is adjoins and projects from the lower edge 22 of the front side l0 and the tongue 16 is adfoined to and projects from the outermost edge 23 of the bottom '13. The tabs l1 adjoin and project from the lower, edges 24 of the ends l2. The several parts just described are all folded in to be at right angles to their adjoining inwardly toward each other in the plane of the bottom l3. The tabs H are preferably-folded in to be covered by or inward of the bottom l3.

The construction just described may be such that the several parts fit closely together and the material out of which the blank is formed may be of such character that the case will remain in the assembled position without the parts being made fast. However, if desired, a suitable adhesive may be applied between the tabs l1 and the bottom and between the tongue I6 and the side ll all to the end that the case becomes a rigid the front side [0 and the partition I4 determines the depth of the match compartment, that is,

the spacing of the partition from the front side if), The front side Ill, the top wall l5 and the partition M are bent or folded relative to each other so that adjoining parts are at right angles to each other, with the result that the top wall 15 extends in the plane of the top of the case as shown in Figs. 1 and 6, while the partition [4 depends from the top wall It downward in the case dividing the interior of the case so that the case. forms a container for the package]? of cigarettes adjacent the rear side H and forms a shallow compartment for matches adjacent the front wall ii].

In accordance with the preferred form of my invention I divide the space between the partition id and the front wall It so that it, in effect, forms two match-carrying compartments one of which faces or opens downwardly while the other faces or opens upwardly, both compartments being open at a point intermediate the ends of the case. To accomplish the construction just referred to I provide an opening 35 in or across the front wall H3 at a po nt intermediate the ends of the case, preferably half-way between the ends of the case. With the construction just described the space between the partition l4 and the front wall it is, in effect, divided into two' match-carrying compartments, these compartments being open or accessible only through the opening 35 in the front wall It, there beingno opening or cutting away of the ends i2 in a manner to weaken the case or to make it too easy to reach the said compartments.

In accordance with my invention I provide matches in the compartments formed between the partition l4 and the front wall l0 so that these matches are available or accessible through the opening 35. In accordance with the broader aspects of the invention matches of any suitable form or type may be carried in the compartments that I have provided in. the case for that purpose. In practice it ismost convenient to employ matches of the type commonly termed pull matches, as matches of this type ignite as they are withdrawn from the package, making it unnecessary to strike. them in the manner usual to ordinary matches. Pull. matches such as I refer to may be characterized by an assembly .of matches'in holders wherein the holders have surfaces which frictionally or otherwise contact the heads of the matches as the. matches: are withdrawn, with the result that theimatches are ignited in the course of being withdrawn.

In the form of the invention illustrated in the drawings, I provide a unit A of pull matches in one mat-ch compartment, and a unit B of pull matches in the other compartment, the unitsb'eing arranged in the match compartments sothat the heads fill of the matches are in the innermost parts of the compartments while the shanks or stems M of the matches project into the space lap, as clearly shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings.

Since pull matches are commonly formed primarily of paper I fund it practical to fix the units A and B in the compartments as above described by applying a suitable adhesive which causes the units to be secured to the inner face of the front side I!) and to the opposing face of the partition M. This not only secures the match units A and B in place but also positively retains the partition in place.

A case equipped with or without match units A and B may be provided complete, as above described, or if desired I may provide a cover 82 for the structure above described. If a cover is desired it may be formed integral with and project from the top edge 60 of the rear side ii so that it can be folded over the top of a package P of cigarettes arranged in the case and, if desired, a retaining tongue 6! may be provided on the cover 62' to be inserted between the package P of cigarettes and the partition M. In Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings I have shown the cover open. As I have pointed out above, the case may be made entirely without the cover 62 and its retaining tongue 6|. It is also to be understood that I may heavily score or otherwise weaken the line of joinder between the cover SI and its supporting side ll, so that a user can readily detach it if it is not desired for use.

In practice the case of the present invention may be supplied with the container portion empty and ready for the reception of a. package of cigarettes, and with match units A and B secured in place as I have described above. When the case is to be used the package P of cigarettes is inserted in the case as shown in Fig. 1, a corner of the cigarette package being torn away making the cigarettes accessible. When a user withdraws a cigarette the matches are immediately available for lighting it, it being merely necessary for the user to grasp the stem 4! of a match and withdraw it throu h the opening 35. The withdrawal of the match when pull-type matches are used will result in its being ignited, so that it is immediately available for use. If the case is provided with a cover 62 it can be closed after the cigarette has been withdrawn or, if the cover is not desired it can be torn off and discarded without in any way injuring or detracting from the utility of the other parts of the case.

In practice I prefer to form the case as above described from a single sheet of cardboard or like material, and I preferably employ a weight or grade of cardboard that will afford ample protection to both the cigarettes and the matches and which will retain its shape and remain sightly during the normal handling of the several packages of cigarettes or until the supply of matches has been exhausted. It is to be understood of course, that the case may be made of a more permanent or durable material in which case the match units A and B would be inserted as detachable units, so that they could be renewed from time to time as they became exhausted.

Having described only a typical preferred form and application of my invention, I do not wish to be limited or restricted to the specific details herein set forth, but wish to reserve to myself any variations or modifications that may appear to those skilled in the art and fall within the scope of the following claims.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A case of the character described including, an open top container for a package of cigarettes,

the length of the container being limited to receive only one package of cigarettes, a receptacle for matches having an access opening intermediate its ends, the receptacle and container being of the same width and of the same length and being divided by a single longitudinally disposed sheet of material forming a partition, and a closure for the container entirely independent of the receptacle.

2. A case of the character described including, an open top container for a package of cigarettes, the length of the container being limited to receive only one package of cigarettes, a receptacle for matches having an access opening intermediate its ends, the receptacle and container being of the same width and of the same length and bein divided by a single longitudinally disposed sheet of material forming a partition, and a closure for the container entirely independent of the receptacle, the access opening being located substantially midway between the ends of the case and being disposed transversely of the case so matches are removable only from the side of the case, cigarettes when in the case being removable only from the top of the case.

3. In combination a single sheet of material having several portions joined edge to edge by folds forming sides of equal length and ends of a case, a portion joined to one end of one of the side portions by a fold to form a bottom for the case, a top portion joined to the upper edge of one side portion by a line of fold and a partition section joined to the top portion by a fold and being equal in length to the sides to divide the case vertically from top to bottom into a container for a package of cigarettes and a receptacle for matches in side by side relationship, the side at the receptacle having an opening intermediate its ends, and a unit of matches fixed in the receptacle with the stems of the matches accessible at the opening.

4. A single sheet blank for a case, the sheet having several portions joined edge to edge by folds forming sides of equal length and ends of a case, a portion joined to one end of one of the side portions by a fold to form a bottom for the case,'a top portion joined to the upper edge of said one side portion by a line of fold and a par tition section joined to the top portion by a fold and being equal in length to the sides to divide the case vertically from top to bottom into a container for a package of cigarettes and a receptacle for matches in side by side relationship, the said one side at the receptacle having a transverse opening extending substantially the width of the said side intermediate its ends.

JACK B. NETHERCUTT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,481,161 Tasler Jan. 15, 1924 2,006,696 Koeble July 2, 1935 1,927,200 Beebe Sept. 19, 1933 1,156,732 White Oct. 12,1915 2,051,450 Lubke Aug. 18, 1936 2,071,978 Hines Feb. 23, 1937 348,924 Munson Sept. 7, 1886 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 362,730 France July 6, 1906 

